Divorcing politics from money

and other challenging policy work

by Krista BaumaneDevelopment Director

Centre for Public Policy

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Mission: to facilitate comprehensive policy change in areas important for Latvia’s development

Policy areas: good governance incl. anti-corruption, criminal justice, European policy, tolerance

Activities: policy analysis, expertise in drafting legislation, monitoring, advocacy, training and consultations

PROVIDUS – a leading think tank in Latvia

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Communication is essential part of our work, or else our

work would be irrelevant

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Public policy community – lawmakers, civil servants, politicians, policy experts and advocacy groups

Specific target groups – teachers, prison-officers, pensioners, students

General public

We communicate to

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Every staff member is the best advocate for his/her issue (media training)

Resources are best invested in quality relationships w/media and target groups, not outsourced campaigns & advertising

Shine with arguments not brochure covers Use and experiment with new media Be pro-active, not just re-active

Communications approaches/principles

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

General elections = arms race LV – highest per capita campaign

spending in EU while lowest GDP Political party finances and campaign

expenditures were unlimited, non-transparent and uncontrolled

Result = “state capture”, as described by World Bank

Policy issue: Divorcing politics from money

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

an on-going project from 2002 addressing political party income (who can

donate, how much), expenditure (types of advertising, campaign “cap”) and transparency

Extensive&expensive monitoring&data gathering (party fin. declarations vs advertising spending)

The challenge: how to divorce politics from money?

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

The direct target group (politicians) rather did not want any changes

The media – a natural ally to fight for public interests – had a conflict of interest (loss of legal and illigal advertising revenue)

Some private media outlets were hostile to the extent of organising special campaigns against our organisation and allies

Communications challenges

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Key – to find allies, also among oponents Work with those allies, invest in

relationships, grow support Look for new allies in new places Accept and respect your opponents and

don’t be afraid to face them in public debate and back-stage

Communications and advocacy approaches

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Country-wide advocacy campaign “citizens against media bribery”

Essay contest for young people, inviting opponents on the panel of judges

Using internet as the main outlet for publicizing results and communications

Confronting politicians publicly and requesting that they follow up w/promises

Communications and advocacy activities

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

Income Companies banned from donating to parties Limit for individual donations, request to provide

proof of adequate income Law on state-funding for political partiesExpenditures Cap on campaign spendingTransparency Obligation to publish all donations on internet

within 10 days of receipt

Results of our advocacy efforts:

Krista Baumane www.providus.lv London, 25.05.10.

The untangible result of successful advocacy/communication is when your arguments and policy proposals take root among your target groups, allies, the media and even opponents to such extent that they don’t even attribute them to you any more